Vikram Dinubhai Panchal – NID

Load Carrier for Labour

National Institute of Design (NID)

Load Carrier for Labour

Load carrier for labor project is the innovation to improve the working condition of labors and workers at many places globally like construction site, factories, ports, railway stations, etc The objective is to prevent various occupational hazards and demonstrating Product design and ergonomic consideration in welfare of human life.

Credits

The National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad

Vikram Dinubhai Panchal, Principal Designer

JURY COMMENTS

Rama Chorpash: It's refreshing to see design working towards supporting a higher standard of living for those who critically need it. Julie did a quick calculation and the 300 rupee cost is approximately $6.70! Designed to be made by local craftsman throughout India, the system bypasses commercialization by setting-up an open-source blueprint for change. The light weight yellow metal hardware details juxtaposed against the 'natural' canning convey both base functionality and contextually appropriate form. Although beautiful enough to display on a wall (Harry and I want one), the "Load Carrier for Labor" is probably happiest doing work. Other designers working in this vein include bamboo connection systems from Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Simón Vélez and Shigeru Ban.

Maria Popova: At the core of the all innovation lies an aspiration to improve quality of life, and the magnitude of difference this carrier makes in the lives of those for whom it is intended is a true feat of simplicity-driven design genius.

Load Carrier for Labour

1. Summarize the problem you set out to solve. What was the challenge posed to you? Did it get you excited and why?

The average workers in India are to carry loads minimum of 5 to 50 kgs. at a days. In practice, the weight or materials handling on the head is approx 5 to 10 Kgs, at the back is approx 10 to 30 Kgs. and heaver then 30 to 50 Kgs. weight are carried by trolleys.
The practice of carrying heavy load on the head and on the back for transportation of goods is still used in India and many other developing countries. In India manual material handling is mostly seen in the fields of agriculture’s, construction, transportation and mining etc. The distance travelled by workers is variable according to the application, generally carried lighter load on the head, heavier loads are on the back and much heavier loads are pulled or pushed by trolley.
The heavy loads for short distances are also carried on the head. The roads these workers have to travel are mostly uneven rough or slushy terrain’s the load workers like the railway coolie workers have to climb flights of steps with the weight.
Though head load and back load carrying are energy efficient methods of load carrying it has adverse effect on musculature and spine. In back load carrying the problem is with positioning and weight on the arm.
Hence a need for a “ONE DESIGN SOLUTION” for all three kinds of load carrying methods by cost effective, easily useable, light weight assistive device for manual material handling for countries that uses manual labors.

2. What point of view did you bring to the challenge? Was there anything additional that you wanted to achieve with this project or bring to this project that was not part of the original brief?

Various situations at present the workers are exposed to various occupational hazards like musculoskeletal disorders, painful to neck, restricting the head and eye movements and affecting vertebral column while the load is on head and back. They also work in the environment, where ground or floor levels are uneven.
I wanted to improve under privilege human life and health with one design solution.
The next possibilities of this design principle is it can be further exploited with change of materials like metal and plastic by appropriate detailing, components, production process etc, to facilitates for various other uses in day today life like camping, baby carrier, offices and libraries etc.

The main objective of the project is to design and develop a device to assist load workers in load carrying on the head, back and pushing and pulling the load for an Indian context. This device is intended to reduce the load on the spine while carrying load on the head, provide good hand grip for back load carrying and making pulling and pushing of the load easier. This device has to be simple, durable, light weight and cost effective.
The principal object of the innovation is to facilitate three methods of lifting and shifting of the loads by worker, such as above the head, at the back and push or pull action. The new device main structures are made from cane materials, plastic and metal components. It is possible to make the entire structure in plastic or metal.
The new design has two major parts, one that holds the load and the other that rests on the shoulder. Device has two knobs, which facilitates the change of required function manually from one to another in one minute duration. This allows three modular functions for carrying lighter loads on the head, medium loads at the back and heavier loads to push or pull as trolley. Ergonomically the load is distributed on the shoulder and at the lumber support by softer material. The total weight of device is 2 Kgs. and would cost approx rupees. 300/- in mass production. This design is registered on 24th April 2008, Design No. 216009,210010,210011.

Since this was self initiated project with instant realization, the research, ethnography, subject matter experts etc was relevant and time bound. The first prototyping and detailing was carried out to ensure the functions and comfort to user with available sources at the National Institute of Design. INDIA

5. What is the social value of your design? (Gladdening, educational, economic, paradigm-shifting, sustainable, labor-mindful, environmental, cultural, etc.) How does it earn its keep in the world?

Considering the working environment, durability, cost etc. this product is design to make in cane material. Due to its simplicity this product can be manufactured by local craftsman of any region of India and abroad. It can also encourage the region with availability of cane and craftsman to start cottage industry at India and abroad. The product design contributes towards improvement of the quality of life and health of Indian citizens and have capacity to influence the quality of life in other countries, where materials are handled by human being This new design of product influence international image through Industrial design the emerging potential of India in product innovation.

6. If you could have done one thing differently with the project, what would you have changed?

The next possibilities of this design principle of the product is it can be further exploited, I would change the structure materials like metal and plastic by appropriate detailing, components, production process etc, to facilitates for various other uses in day today life like camping, baby carrier, offices and libraries etc.